Talking about the return of Jesus, the apostle Peter wrote, “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11-12). But what does it mean to be holy? Something that is holy is set apart; it is made for a special, … Continue reading Don’t shortchange your life
meaning
Simply showing up
Yesterday I talked about being useful, and asked you this question: How can we be useful to Jesus as his hands and feet in a hurting world by being proactive about the well-being of others? Usefulness is the hands and feet of faithfulness. Sometimes these opportunities to be useful arise through specific initiatives or programs … Continue reading Simply showing up
The power of being useful
A lot of people struggle with their purpose in life. It’s a complicated issue, but one of the reasons people struggle is because they’re not sure if God exists. Historian Carl L. Becker said that humans must be looked at as “little more than a chance deposit on the surface of the world, carelessly thrown … Continue reading The power of being useful
Your spiritual gift
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them… Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (verses 4, 7). In a profound passage, Paul explains how God gives spiritual gifts to all Christians. If you are a follower … Continue reading Your spiritual gift
But what does the Spirit actually DO?
This week I’m answering some questions about the Holy Spirit. So far we’ve talked about whether the Spirit is an “it” or a “who,” on whether the Spirit makes you “feel” different, and what holiness means. Here’s today’s question: What does the Spirit actually DO? After all, if the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us … Continue reading But what does the Spirit actually DO?
Earmarked for God’s purposes
This week I’ve been answering some questions about the Holy Spirit. On Monday we explored whether the Spirit is an “it” or a “who.” On Tuesday we asked if the Spirit makes you “feel” differently? Here’s today’s question: What does it matter to you that the Spirit is “holy”? First, we need to understand what … Continue reading Earmarked for God’s purposes
The power of perseverance
King David was able to persevere through many challenges in his life. I think he was able to do this—even through such pain and difficulty—because he was CALLED by God to a godly purpose. 1 Samuel 16 tells the story of his anointing as the future king of Israel. He knew that God has summoned … Continue reading The power of perseverance
What you’re doing impacts how you’re doing
Yesterday I highlighted Psalm 37. David was feeling frustrated by his lot in life. He felt persecuted and under threat. He had a concern that bad people seem to prosper more than good people. He was angry, and was somehow hurting. Despite all this, he stressed that God’s people should do good regardless of their … Continue reading What you’re doing impacts how you’re doing
A purpose that offsets your pain
In Psalm 37 David is feeling frustrated by his lot in life. He feels persecuted and under threat. He has a concern that bad people seem to prosper more than good people. He’s angry, and has somehow been hurt or is hurting. But this is what he says: “Do not fret because of those who … Continue reading A purpose that offsets your pain
The dead faith of the living?
Theologian Jaroslav Pelikan said: “Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” Let me explain. Tradition is the “living faith of the dead.” It’s a reference to the dynamic and life-changing Christian faith of those who have gone on before us, and which we remember through certain … Continue reading The dead faith of the living?
